Reno Budget Rent-A-Car Unfair Cleaning Fee ?
Jan 23, 2013, 8:55 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1
Reno Budget Rent-A-Car Unfair Cleaning Fee ?
Has anyone else rented from the Reno Budget Rent A Car and received a notice of a cleaning fee much later - after the car was returned ?
This happened to me - I returned the car in early September, and made sure to have it professionally cleaned beforehand as I had heard about capricious charges such as this. When I returned the car, I asked the attendant if the car was in acceptable condition and he agreed it was, and I took pictures of the interior of the car.
A month later I was assessed a $250 cleaning fee ! Along with the $90 I spent having the car professionally cleaned that made an additional $340 charge.
Following up with Budget and my credit card company provided to be an exhaustive and pointless process.
I hate to be the suspicious type, but I found that Budget was hundreds of dollars less than the competition. Could this charge have been part of the plan all along ? I don't know but I do wonder.
Can anyone advise me how I could avoid such charges in the future ?
A friend of mine recommended this site for travelers' issues.
Best Regards,
This happened to me - I returned the car in early September, and made sure to have it professionally cleaned beforehand as I had heard about capricious charges such as this. When I returned the car, I asked the attendant if the car was in acceptable condition and he agreed it was, and I took pictures of the interior of the car.
A month later I was assessed a $250 cleaning fee ! Along with the $90 I spent having the car professionally cleaned that made an additional $340 charge.
Following up with Budget and my credit card company provided to be an exhaustive and pointless process.
I hate to be the suspicious type, but I found that Budget was hundreds of dollars less than the competition. Could this charge have been part of the plan all along ? I don't know but I do wonder.
Can anyone advise me how I could avoid such charges in the future ?
A friend of mine recommended this site for travelers' issues.
Best Regards,
Jan 23, 2013, 3:12 pm
#2
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,615
Why did the car need to be "professionally cleaned" in the first place?
Jan 23, 2013, 7:41 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AGR, PC, HH no status as I stopped paying for travel
Posts: 1,454
Does anything apply?
Does this apply to you
Just as renters are assessed a fee for cleaning the car's interior for excessive stains, dirt or soiling attributable to the renter’s use, customers will be assessed an additional charge if the car smells of smoke when it is returned
Just as renters are assessed a fee for cleaning the car's interior for excessive stains, dirt or soiling attributable to the renter’s use, customers will be assessed an additional charge if the car smells of smoke when it is returned
Jan 23, 2013, 8:10 pm
#4
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,615
Smoke-Free Fleet Policy
• Budget also has initiated an enhanced inspection process to help ensure a pleasant rental experience for all. Each vehicle will be confirmed “smoke-free” when it is provided to a customer. Upon its return, it will be inspected. If it is determined that the vehicle must be cleaned of tobacco odor and residue, the renter will be assessed a fee of up to $250.
<snip>
• As new vehicles enter the fleet, or existing vehicles are inspected and found to be smoke-free, a sticker will be placed on the rear side window informing the customer that the vehicle is smoke-free, that smoking in the vehicle is prohibited, and that if cleaning of tobacco residue and odors is required, the $250 fee will be assessed.
• This Smoke-Free Fleet policy is in effect for 100% of our fleet, not only those vehicles with window stickers.
• Budget also has initiated an enhanced inspection process to help ensure a pleasant rental experience for all. Each vehicle will be confirmed “smoke-free” when it is provided to a customer. Upon its return, it will be inspected. If it is determined that the vehicle must be cleaned of tobacco odor and residue, the renter will be assessed a fee of up to $250.
<snip>
• As new vehicles enter the fleet, or existing vehicles are inspected and found to be smoke-free, a sticker will be placed on the rear side window informing the customer that the vehicle is smoke-free, that smoking in the vehicle is prohibited, and that if cleaning of tobacco residue and odors is required, the $250 fee will be assessed.
• This Smoke-Free Fleet policy is in effect for 100% of our fleet, not only those vehicles with window stickers.
Based upon my experience with rental cars, it is impossible to completely eliminate the residual cigarette smoke odors from cars that were smoked in. On several occasions, I had to return and switch cars due to lingering tobacco smell even after the cars were "professionally cleaned" by the rental car companies.
Jan 25, 2013, 4:11 am
#5
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,032
My experience is only with Avis, but they share a lot of the same policies as they are under the same parent company:
I've complained a few times of the car smelling like smoke or gotten into the smoking debate with employees b/c of nasty cars. I've always been told that Avis only charges a renter if there is physical, visual evidence of smoking in the car upon return. So unless they find cigarette butts or ashes, they can't charge you. Seems absurd to me but that's what they claimed.
I've complained a few times of the car smelling like smoke or gotten into the smoking debate with employees b/c of nasty cars. I've always been told that Avis only charges a renter if there is physical, visual evidence of smoking in the car upon return. So unless they find cigarette butts or ashes, they can't charge you. Seems absurd to me but that's what they claimed.
Jan 27, 2013, 6:14 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,635
My experience is only with Avis, but they share a lot of the same policies as they are under the same parent company:
I've complained a few times of the car smelling like smoke or gotten into the smoking debate with employees b/c of nasty cars. I've always been told that Avis only charges a renter if there is physical, visual evidence of smoking in the car upon return. So unless they find cigarette butts or ashes, they can't charge you. Seems absurd to me but that's what they claimed.
I've complained a few times of the car smelling like smoke or gotten into the smoking debate with employees b/c of nasty cars. I've always been told that Avis only charges a renter if there is physical, visual evidence of smoking in the car upon return. So unless they find cigarette butts or ashes, they can't charge you. Seems absurd to me but that's what they claimed.